By Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
It was a great pleasure and honour to attend the book presentation and birthday celebration marking the retirement of Dame Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who today brings to a close an illustrious career in service to our people, our country and humanity.
I congratulated Dame Walson-Jack in my remarks and thanked her for the honour of inviting me to speak at this important occasion. I also appreciated her for giving me the opportunity to write the foreword to one of the books, “I Planted”, in which she chronicles her experiences and journey in public service, particularly her experiences in Bayelsa and at the federal level.
I thanked her parents, especially her late father, HRH Otobotekere JP, who was also a father figure to me, for their tremendous investment in education, particularly the education of the girl child. That investment has clearly paid off.
I also thanked her husband, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack and family for their support throughout her journey. As I said at the event, Didi and her husband have remained an inseparable pair—you buy one and get the other one free.
I also acknowledged the contributions of the many people who played important roles in her journey, including her colleagues. I thanked the President of the Federal Republic for recognising her competence and giving her the opportunity to serve. I equally appreciated the role played by Chief Alamieyeseigha in appointing her, and thanked President Jonathan, who was always available to offer his support whenever I presented her and matters concerning her. All these contributions have played a significant role in bringing us to where we are today.
Dame Didi Walson-Jack served with me when I was Attorney-General. She was Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, and together we did considerable work in building and strengthening the Ministry of Justice in Bayelsa State.
During my time in the House of Representatives, I sought opportunities to help her advance her career and also remove her from the distractions of petty and often self-destructive politics at the time in Bayelsa. President Jonathan approved a slot for me which was given to her to attend the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for one year, providing her with an opportunity to broaden her experience.
When she completed her service at NIPSS, we agreed to remove her from certain petty and destructive politics at the time in Bayelsa, which was a threat to her career, as we feared she could have been dismissed or retired before her time. At my instance, after presenting the matter to President Jonathan, he graciously approved her secondment and transfer to the Federal Civil Service, and she accepted even at a lower grade.
When I became Governor, I again approached President Jonathan for her release on secondment to serve with me as I set about reorganising the state and implementing the agenda I had for the state as Governor. I was deliberate about selecting the team that would help me deliver that agenda.
Dame Didi Walson-Jack worked with me as Deputy Chief of Staff, although my initial intention had been to appoint her Chief of Staff. I had to create the office of Deputy Chief of Staff for her, in the same way I created the position of Principal Executive Secretary for Douye Diri, who is now Governor of Bayelsa State. Both of them served in my office.
I subsequently appointed Didi as Commissioner of the Ministry of Science and Technology, which I established to enable Bayelsa State catch up with the ICT revolution. I entrusted her with the responsibility of designing and awarding the Computer and ICT Village project. The project was slowed down by the recession, but I am pleased to understand that it has now been completed and I hope it will be effectively utilised as intended.
At a point, Didi Walson-Jack sought to return to the Federal Civil Service so that she could continue her career progression and sit for the examination required for advancement to the rank of Director. Once again, I approached President Jonathan, explained the situation, and he approved her recall from secondment.
She subsequently sat for and passed her directorship examination, and became Permanent Secretary under President Buhari’s administration, and eventually got appointed as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by President Bola Tinubu.
Today, that journey has culminated in her retirement as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. I am particularly grateful to President Jonathan for the opportunities and support he provided at critical moments in her career at my instance. Looking back, the strategic decisions we made together in supporting her career have clearly paid off.
Dame Didi Walson-Jack has brought honour and distinction not only to herself and her family, but to her community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and, importantly, to women across the country.
Her story is one of perseverance, consistency, loyalty, discipline and hard work. It is also a powerful reminder of why we must continue to invest in the education of the girl child.
On behalf of the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation and Hensard University, of which I am Chancellor, I commend the books to the public and encourage people to read them and learn from her remarkable journey. I am also pleased to announce the purchase of 100 copies for the sum of ₦10 million which will be distributed to tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State.
I thank everyone who has played a role in Dame Didi Walson-Jack’s life and career.
I congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement, and wish her many more years of good health, fulfilment and continued service to God and humanity.
Senator Dickson is the National Leader of NDC
